Your garden will love you

Composting can cut your waste by 56%

Build a composting station

You can buy a composter or make one yourself using chicken wire, wood or concrete blocks. Ensure you have a lid to keep rainwater and pests out. Choose a site in your backyard in a sunny spot with good drainage.

What to compost

Start collecting compost. You will need a mixture of different materials that are either rich in nitrogen or rich in carbon.

Fresh, green, nitrogen-rich organics:

Dry, brown, carbon-rich organics:

fruit and veg peelings/scraps

tea bags

pasta

coffee grounds

stale bread

eggshells

dry leaves

straw/hay

wood chips/sawdust

napkins

dryer lint

vacuum cleanings

Keep a bucket in the kitchen to collect food scraps.

ADAM makes great compost

To make great compost, just follow the ADAM principle:

Aliveness – the more micro creatures the better! A compost heap contains micro organisms that act as natural decomposers.

Aeration – your compost needs air to stay alive. Turn the heap each week with a garden fork to keep your compost fresh.

Moisture – a dry compost heap slows decomposition down. Your compost should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge.

Reap the benefits

Your compost should be ready to use in about 3-4 months. You can use your compost for potted plants, as mulch around outdoor plants and as a top dressing for your lawn. It will strengthen your plants’ immune systems and keep them healthy and vibrant.

Live in an apartment or don’t have a backyard? Start a worm farm instead. Worms can turn your organic waste into a rich fertiliser and can be kept outside, inside, on the balcony or in the garage. To find out how to build a worm farm, visit the Australian Museum website: australianmuseum.net.au/Museum-2-You